Police closing in on girls' killers

Police investigating the New Year shootings of two teenage girls in Birmingham are close to completing a case against their killers.

Bishop of Birmingham the Right Rev John Sentamu, dismissed reports that the police inquiry into the murders of Charlene Ellis, 18, and Latisha Shakespeare, 17, was being blocked by a "wall of silence" in the local black community.

He said he was hopeful the killers would be brought to justice and praised West Midlands Police for not rushing the investigation.

The bishop has issued a public plea for witnesses who are unwilling to talk to the police to come to him, and today said that 15 had done so. He said he had advised them to go to the police and assured them that they would not be questioned on unrelated matters if they did.

He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "The police to date have taken 70 witness statements, so the whole question of a wall of silence isn't really accurate.

"They really need just one little piece of the jigsaw puzzle - one eye-witness. Already, they have got details about who they think actually did it, but it requires an eye-witness.

"I am glad that they are not rushing into charging people. The Chief Constable has been very steady and all he is looking for is just one witness and he will bring to book the people who did it."

Police have gathered DNA evidence from the hairdressing salon where the two girls were attending a party at the time of the killings, and it was only "a matter of time" before those who were present were identified, said the bishop.

He added: "The police must be careful in not rushing into anything because what would be terrible would be to take a suspect to court and find they are not convicted. That would be far worse."

However Charlene's grandmother Daphne Ellis said she did believe that distrust of police among the community was hampering the investigation, and called for anyone who knew anything about the murders to come forward with evidence.